On March 30, 2019, Cassie Davis (SI ’19) won the top $5,000 prize at the fifth annual Pitch and Catch Competition hosted by the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurs at Saint Louis University. The competition featured ten college students from across the US and Canada and ten local St. Louis high school students pitching their ideas to St. Louis business executives and potential investors.  

In the National Car Rental Club overlooking home plate at Busch Stadium, Davis presented on behalf of her team Illumino*, a surgical lighting company with a flexible, low-profile lighting option that provides more illumination for the surgical field compared to current light sources.

While she presented alone, Davis was thrilled to be joined by her teammates and members of the Masters of Engineering and Biomedical Innovation faculty who joined her for moral support.

Davis’ biggest takeaway from the competition was just how much little things make a difference in her preparation. To prepare, faculty from her Master’s program rehearsed with her every day in the week leading up to the competition. Davis also made an Illumino baseball cap to help her stand out during the presentation.

Overall, Davis found the competition to be an excellent learning experience and very constructive. “It was fun presenting in a non-classroom setting where it doesn’t affect your grade, and you have an engaged audience”, Davis shared.

*Illumino recently earned second place in the first-ever Skandalaris Venture Competition.